Morse Code Vs. Typewriter: Which Angry Verizon Net Neutrality Rant Wins?

The telecommunications giant is not happy about today’s FCC vote approving strict new regulations on internet providers. But the result is a couple of amusing press releases.

Paul J. Richards / Getty Images

2. Verizon is not happy about today’s FCC vote to treat broadband internet as a public utility, just like telephone lines.

In response, Verizon argued that the rules being applied were outdated relics from a previous communications era and would regulate the internet like the early telephone networks of the 1930s.

3. After today’s vote, Verizon put out two official replies: one in morse code and one using a type writer font and dated “1934” instead of “2015.” The Communiations Act, which gives the FCC the authority to reclassify broadband, was written in 1934.

4. First, the morse code.

6. And the old-timey typewriter.

7. Is this a cringeworthy attempt reduce a crucial public policy debate down to gimmicky press releases? Sure. But it’s also reflective of a fight where one of the deadliest weapons was a viral video.

John Oliver’s net neutrality bit led to so many comments that the FCC’s commenting system broke down.

9. And net neutrality supporter Keith Ellison, a Democratic congressman, contributed a vine of him singing and dancing in celebration. (Twitter, which owns Vine, supports the net neutrality rules).

11. And as pointed out here, this fight marks the rise of the internet as a mainstream political issue. So, in the spirit of the battle, we ask:

  1. Which of Verizon’s gimmicky responses worked best?

    1. Morse Code

    2. Old-Timey Typewriter

Morse Code Vs. Typewriter: Which Angry Verizon Net Neutrality Rant Wins?

SHARE YOUR VOTE!

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewzeitlin/verizon-morse-code

‘Waterfall in my living room': ‘Polar vortex’ wreaks havoc on pipes across the country [pics, video]

FNC’s Anna Kooiman is not alone. Thanks to crazy-low temperatures, pipes are bursting all over the place:

Amanda Marcotte: High school senior sexually harassed Miss America

Despite being warned by school officials not to, senior Patrick Farves used a visit by Miss America Nina Davuluri to Central York High School to ask her to the prom. Sure, it might have been awkward, but was it sexual harassment? Amanda Marcotte — at one time John Edwards’ blogmaster  — says yes.

http://twitter.com/#!/esjurso/status/458277482769440768

Or is it?

Got it?

@DrNerdLove @AmandaMarcotte
Still the question is unanswered. How is this Sexual Harassment?
This is awkward, yes, harassment, no.— Vincent's Verstandsk (@VerstandskiesK) April 21, 2014

That’s why.

 

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2014/04/21/amanda-marcotte-senior-sexually-harassed-miss-america-by-asking-her-to-prom/

Santana throws shutout against the Padres

New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana threw a complete game against the San Diego Padres. The Mets won the contest 9-0. Santana only allowed 4 hits. It is his first shutout since 2010.

Johan Santana threw a complete game 4 hit shutout! Mets win 9-0! #LGM

— 〽️atthew ©alvert (@Mcalvert25) May 26, 2012

https://twitter.com/LegendaryMMG/status/206473349994528769

Outstanding pitching performance by Johan Santana! Congrats to Vinny Rottino on his 1st homer! Nice grand slam by Mike Nickeas! Mets win 9-0

— Joe (@JoePo_) May 26, 2012

https://twitter.com/MetsDoctors/status/206463860541095936

Fun fact Johan Santana is the only celeb who has ever tweeted back at me

— Sara Loebig (@saraloebig) May 26, 2012

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/05/26/santana-throws-shutout-against-the-padres/

‘No more mister nice guy': Alice Cooper’s deadly knife skills [video]

19 Reasons Not To Visit The Miami Area

Welcome to EWWW / Bienvenido a OOOOOF.

1. The sunsets look like this everywhere, right? Boring.

Elido Turco / Creative Commons / Flickr: elidoturco

Sunset over the Miami skyline.

2. The only thing to do there is go to cheesy nightclubs. Everyone knows this.

The Hanging Gardens at PAMM

Patrick Farrell for VISIT FLORIDA / Creative Commons / Flickr: visitflorida

MOCA

Iring Chao / Creative Commons / Flickr: iring

The Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium

GRP / Creative Commons / Flickr: gpmpk

 

“Hanging garden” at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and “touching the orb” at the Patricia and Philip Frost Museum of Science.

3. If you’re not a beach person, you’re out of luck, because there’s NOTHING else to do there.

Wally Gobetz / Creative Commons / Flickr: wallyg

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts consists of the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House, the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, and the Carnival Studio Theater.

4. No one there even reads.

Bob B. Brown / Creative Commons / Flickr: beleaveme

A look at the annual Miami Book Fair International.

5. The people are shallow. They only care about clubbing and shopping and getting a tan.

EL Gringo / Creative Commons / Flickr: romancing_the_road

2006 immigration rally.

6. And it’s just all… the same. You’ve seen one palm tree, you’ve seen ‘em all. Zzzzzzzzzz!

Lisa Jacobs / Creative Commons / Flickr: bunnygoth

Multi-colored bougainvillea at Fairchild Tropical Garden.

7. People there basically subsist on overpriced cocktails.

Mark Mathosian / Creative Commons / Flickr: markgregory

A beautiful little jolt of Cuban coffee.

8. It’s positively swarming with gators!

Rick Webb / Creative Commons / Flickr: lizstless

Watch out! It’s the dreaded(edly adorable) Florida manatee.

9. The official bird of South Florida is the mosquito, or so I’ve gathered from many a Facebook joke.

Jorge Elías / Creative Commons / Flickr: italintheheart

Peacocks roam streets and rooftops alike across Miami.

10. Not to mention all the corny “tourist traps.”

Junior Henry / Creative Commons / Flickr: jr8henry

A nighttime view of the Vizcaya mansion.

11. Rumor has it that the only songs that play there are by Will Smith or LMFAO.

Fabio / Creative Commons / Flickr: fabiomiami

A music-themed mural in Little Havana.

12. Yup, just “Welcome to Miami,” blaring from every corner.

Knight Foundation / Creative Commons / Flickr: knightfoundation

Boukman Eksperyans perform at Big Night in Little Haiti.

13. It’s an ugly, plastic area.

Kenneth Garcia / Creative Commons / Flickr: kennethgarcia

Vine-covered oak branches reach out to one another across Coral Way.

14. It’s just so… tacky.

Dan Lundberg / Creative Commons / Flickr: 9508280@N07

Miami’s iconic Freedom Tower, the “Ellis Island of the South.”

15. The art scene there is just an excuse for pretentious people to throw parties.

Mural by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra / Via Wally Gobetz / Creative Commons / Flickr: wallyg

Eduardo Kobra mural is just one example of Miami’s accessible art scene.

16. The food there is gross and boring and I want to vom just thinking about it. YUCK.

Wally Gobetz / Creative Commons / Flickr: wallyg

Sally Taylor / Creative Commons / Flickr: sataylor

Dan Goldman / Creative Commons / Flickr: burningdove

 

A Cuban frita from El Rey de las Fritas, Colombian patacón and empanada at Bolivar, and a Trinidadian-spiced curry roti roll from Christine’s Roti Kitchen.

17. The Miami area simply lacks any sense of history.

Thomas Hawk / Creative Commons / Flickr: thomashawk

Miami Beach’s Holocaust Memorial.

18. It’s aggressively basic, with no sense of originality or weirdness.

sandwich / Creative Commons / Flickr: sandwichgirl

violinha / Creative Commons / Flickr: violinha

 

The mysterious Coral Castle was built with over 1,100 tons of coral rock quarried, carved, and assembled through unknown means by one man, Edward Leedskalnin, as a monument to his lost love. Or it was built by aliens. One can never be too sure.

19. Everything has to be loud and showy! There’s no place for quiet moments.

VISIT FLORIDA Editor / Creative Commons / Flickr: visitflorida

The view from the Deering Estate at sunset.

UGH. Don’t ever visit. You’ll hate every delicious, musical, inspiring, sun-drenched, ocean breeze-kissed moment.

joiseyshowaa / Creative Commons / Flickr: joiseyshowaa

The sun rises over the Miami skyline, as seen from Matheson Hammock.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalvarez/homesick-tbqh